Brightwell Aquatics NeoZeo method.

[sammy33]

I got a copy of the .pdf (pm me if you want a copy) on the NeoZeo method and have read through it several times. I do have some experience with ULNS through using Prodibio. It seems like some of the supplements from Brightwell will compliment Prodibio quite nicely especially the Vitamin C, Replenish and the KoralColor products.

I am also considering trying this method in whole as I have had some great results on my SPS reef with Prodibio. The addition of the zeo media seems to allow even lower levels of nutrients in turn allowing more feeding/dosing. I also like the idea of using a canister filter instead of a hand pump reactor.

Potassium seems to be the main catalyst for colors in terms of inorganic supplementation. I have been using the Brightwell Potassion, Strontion, Iodion and CoralAmino for a few months. I am using Tropic Marin Pro salt which is apparently a bit low on this element. After dosing the Potassion for several weeks my color has improved especially on my Montipora.

 

[sammy33]

I decided to go full tilt neoZeo. I already have a good number of the supplements mentioned in the manual so I only needed to buy the neozeo media, Microbacter7 (MB7) and Reef Biofuel (RBF).

I also picked up a few other supplements including KoralColor and KoralleVM both seem to be trace element supplements.

NeoZeo media came in a box and I divided the media into 5 zipbags of about the same weight volume for the 5 week slow introduction of media. For a media reactor I am using a Eheim 2026 canister filter leftover from my freshwater tank.

The Eheim has an easily adjustable flow so you can crank it up every few days to blow the bio film off the zeo stones. You then set the flow at about 100 gph for normal operation. This is recommended in the manual or you can also use a traditional zeo reactor.

The slow introduction of the neozeo media may not be entirely necessary on my system as I have been using Prodibio on my reef for about 6 months driving towards an ULNS. I am still going to take it slow with neozeo.

Inorganic stuff - primary elements and the Koralcolor is a blend of trace elements. Potassium is underrated IMHO.

Organic supplements for neoZeo - MB7 and RBF are the microbe/enzymes and the carbon source when combined with the neoZeo media form the basis for this system. Ultra low nutrients are the result allowing the addition of lotsa coral food - KoralleVM, ReefSnow and Amino Acids.

Many other things mentioned in the neozeo manual but this is my brightwell collection so far. I have one dose of Biodigest left from my Prodibio and wil do that most likely today when I add the first batch of neozeo media to the eheim.

 

[CHUBAKAH]

Keep the updates coming Sam. I am in to my third week, and my results from just the Neozeo media, microbactor7, and now the Biofuel are quite noticeable already.

One of my local clubs is having Mr Brightwell come in next month, and I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say.

I agree with most that the manual is not the best. I look forward to being able to ask some questions.

Mark

 

[unbreakable]

i didnt get to see, but do you have to run your alklanity low in order to use the neo media?

 

[CHUBAKAH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13440828#post13440828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by unbreakable
i didnt get to see, but do you have to run your alklanity low in order to use the neo media?

I'll be honest, I don't recall seeing anything about adjusting the ALK.

 

[PnoyReefeR]

I am in my 7th week .. so far all looks good.. will post pics shortly

 

[sammy33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13440828#post13440828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by unbreakable
i didnt get to see, but do you have to run your alklanity low in order to use the neo media?

In my experience with Prodibio I have better results with an Alk around 8 dKH. This to me would not be a low Alk but rather targeting NSW value and also what my salt mix produces. I range from 7.5 to 8.5.

Alk above 9 dKH seems to cause problems with my SPS and tissue degradation. This has been especially true since starting Prodibio. This is also reported by Zeovit users.

 

[Robert Patterso]

Who is carrying the NeoZeo media online

 

[totalfreedom]

Fragfarmer carries it.

 

[Robert Patterso]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13442670#post13442670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by totalfreedom
Fragfarmer carries it.

Thanks, what are the other necassary parts/additives to make this work successfully

 

[dtf]

marinereef and premium aquatics.

 

[sammy33]

I added my first batch of the neozeo to my canister filter today. I am using an eheim 2026 to house the media. I had great success with Prodibio in terms of my initial goals. My hope when I started Prodibio was to reduce nutrients and in turn reduce or get rid of macroalgae that was growing in my display tank.

This was about six months ago. 3-2008

Lots of different types of macro growing in the display including gelidium, dictyota, caluerpa, valonia, neomeris etc.

Most of this algae is now gone. 9-2008

Before Prodibio I was using the hyper magnesium method for trying to control these algae. The magnesium levels above 1600 ppm seems to keep the micro algae at bay but did not do much to rid the macro. This is the primary reason I started Prodibio and I am pleased with the results.

One of the side effects of using Prodibio was my SPS started to tease with some nicer colors.This year I have also added metal halides to my canopy, upgraded my skimmer (octopus nw-200) and boosted my flow to 4 Tunze 6055 and a controller. Just for reference here are some more pics from this past week prior to starting neozeo.

This is my Turkey Turd Brown Montipora. LOL I see signs of the edge turning maybe green, maybe purple? Could simply be a potassium deficiency? Hopefully NeoZeo will help.

This mille seems to be doing better and is teasing a nice blue.

Purple polyp monti and green acro.

Orange and purple digitata have increased in color since I started using the potassium supplement.

Some teasing purple on this acro.

More teasing purple on the tips of this one.

Some nice colors on these frags as well. Hopefully neozeo will improve from here.

 

[Onewingdove]

Cool... found the pdf. now on to more reading.

 

[moonyguy]

I started using Reef Biofuel from brightwell Aquatics. I have a 75 gal tank and I am dosing just 2 ml for the last week. My alk has shot up to 10.2 dKH and today I noticed my green birdsnest with burnt tips. Any idea how I can get it lowered?

 

[sammy33]

moonyguy - Maybe slow down (or even turn off) your Ca reactor till it drops. You could also do some water changes to drop the Alk.

I would shoot for 7 to 9 dKH with your target number being what your salt mix produces. I use Tropic Marin pro that is around 8 dKh and target that number when adjusting my carbonate dosing.

 

[moonyguy]

Thanks sam. I dont have a Ca reactor setup yet. I use kalk for topoff. May be cut back on that for a week and see how it does.

 

[sammy33]

moonyguy - It has been a while...how are you Alk dKH levels? Have you tested your salt mix Alk levels?

 

[MSHUR]

Hey Sammy,
hows your tank doing? Are you happy with Brightwell stuff?
can you please tell as how much you dose ?..and what you dose..

mike

 

[kzoo]

I just started this system on my tank I have battled with Hair Algea for months now, tryed GFO, pulling it, scrubing rocks, feeding very light, skimming wet, ect. After I talked with Sam and seeing what it did with his tank I feel this may get my tank were I want it. I am going to post I pic to show now with HA and hopefully after with it gone.

 

[sammy33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13533774#post13533774 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSHUR
Hey Sammy,
hows your tank doing? Are you happy with Brightwell stuff?
can you please tell as how much you dose ?..and what you dose..

mike

I am happy with the Brightwell chems and the NeoZeo method so far. I am actually on my third batch of zeo stones that I just added to my canister filter. Last couple weeks with only 200-400g of stones it did not cover the whole reactor so there was a lot of water bypass around the stones. Now with 600g of stones the reactor bottom is completely covered so not much water can bypass the zeo stones. I am thinking that I should start to see more aggressive nutrient reduction.

I am dosing pretty much by the book (for quantity and frequency) with the exception of Potassium. I am using a higher dose of Potassium as my salt mix is low K at around 310ppm. I showed all the Brigtwell stuff I was using in the pics I posted previously but here is a list:

Inorganics
Potassion
Iodion
Strontion
KoralColor
Magnesion

Organics
Microbacter7
Reef Biofuel
KoralleVM
CoralAmino
ReefSnow

I have seen a general continued improvement on coral color. I was already getting fair results with Prodibio before and now with only a couple weeks of NeoZeo I am seeing encouraging results. Here are a couple top down shots from my reef.

Sunshine Long Hair Hippie Mille :bum: :wildone:

More purple tips

This one is fast becoming my favorite with the blue. Before using the bac methods this coral was completely brown but the tips.